Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal alleged on Saturday that she was denied permission by the Manipur government to visit the violence hit state and that she was being prevented from speaking to survivors of sexual assault in the video of Kuki women paraded naked by a mob in Kangpokpi district on May 4. "After telling me I can come to Manipur, ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐จ ๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐น๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐บ๐ฒ. This is shocking and absurd. Why canโt I meet survivors of sexual violence? I have already booked my tickets after discussing with them. Why try and stop me???," tweeted Swati Maliwal. However, on Sunday morning (July 23), the DCW chief tweeted saying that she would be flying to Imphal despite denied permission and that she has "sought time from Manipur CM."
"Manipur Govt recommended I consider postponing my visit due to law and order situation. After deliberation on their suggestion, have decided to fly to Imphal as planned. Sought time from Manipur CM. Will meet him & request him to come along to visit the sexual assault survivors," she tweeted on Sunday (July 23) morning.
WATCH: Swati Maliwal speaks about her visit to violence-hit Manipur.
Swati Maliwal's reaction post Manipur viral video
Earlier, on July 20, Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal, condemning the viral video showing two Kuki women paraded naked in a May 4 video in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, questioned the "silence" of the Central government on Manipur violence. The DCW chief also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not spoken on the incident or visited Manipur even once after violence broke out in the state on May 3.
"Manipur CM to allow my visit to meet the survivors, their families and other girls and women. Want to submit a fact finding report to the Govt regarding sexual crimes against women so that action is taken at the earliest," DCW chief had said in her earlier tweet.
Manipur violence
The state of Manipur has seen violence since May 3 after conflict broke out between the Meitei and Kuki community members. Widespread violence and arson has been reported from the state ever since the ethnic conflicts broke out. However, the May 4 video which surfaced on July 19 showing sexual violence and humiliation of the Kuki women paraded naked in Kangpokpi and sexually assaulted by the mob has sent shockwaves across the country.
Arrests made after uproar
On Saturday, Manipur Police apprehended two individuals, including a juvenile, in connection with the case. Six suspects have been nabbed so far, with police intensifying raids to arrest the remaining culprits involved in the heinous act.
